Restaurant industry icon Chris T. Sullivan is the catalyst behind Omnivore. During the 30-plus years that he worked in the restaurant industry, he saw that technology is often a barrier for restaurants when it could be an opportunity. It was his involvement in a mobile ordering and payment platform MenuPad that led to Omnivore’s creation.
Sullivan founded Outback Steakhouse with Bob Basham, Tim Gannon and Trudy Cooper in 1988, and served as former Chairman and CEO of Outback Steakhouse, Inc. as the company expanded.
The company went public in 1991, and over the next 15 years, Sullivan collaborated with the founders of Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion to develop and operate over 1,400 restaurants worldwide.
In 2007, the company was sold to Bain Capital Partners, Catterton Partners and the Founders. In 2012, the reconstructed company, Bloomin’ Brands, Inc., went public and Sullivan served as a Director.
He is currently a partner of MVP Holdings, Inc. The strategic investments in MVP Holdings’ portfolio include Metro Diner, ConSul Hospitality Partners, Besito Mexican, Omnivore, iPaladin, MenuPad, and others.
Sullivan received a bachelor’s degree in business and economics at the University of Kentucky. He was inducted into the university’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2000 and into the Kentucky Entrepreneur Hall of Fame in 2014.